Torpedo steering system



Filed Dec. 27, 1945 ATTORNEY the feedback circuit including the condenser 26, diode rectifier 27 and resistor 28. As shown in the drawing, the cathode of the diode rectifier 27 is biased positive by way of the potentiometer 29 so that the rectifier will be rendered conductive and, hence, the `bias and gain of the amplifier will be controlled, only for inputs to the amplifier and, hence, signal intensities at the hydrophones, above a preassigned level.

The gate circuit includes a diode rectifier 30, similar to the rectifier 27 and having7 its cathode biased positive below the bias upon the cathode of the rectifier 27, which is included in the input circuit of a normally non-conducting electron discharge device 31. The output circuit of this device includes the gate relay 32 which has a pair of armatures 33 and 34 and associated grounded contacts and, as noted heretofore, is provided with a lock in. In order to simplify the drawing, the lock in circuit, which may be of generally conventional construction, is not shown. The relay armature 33 is connected directly to the anode of the rectifier 27; the armature 34 is connected in the energizing circuit for the transfer relay 35 which has an armature 36 and transfer contacts 37 and 38, the armature and contacts being associated with the actuator 11, gyroscope 12 and control 13 as indicated. rl`he construction is such that, as indicated, when the gate relay 32 is released the transfer relay 35 is operated Whereby the armature 36 is in engagement with the contact 38 and the actuator 11 is under control of the gyroscope 12 whereas when the gate relay operates, the transfer relay 'releases and its armature engages the contact 37 to associate the actuator 11 with the target signal control 13.

The operation of the system is as follows: When the torpedo is launched, the gate and transfer relays are in the condition shown in FIG. 2 so that the rudder is under gyroscope control and the torpedo is maintained upon a preassigned course. Inasmuch as the anode of the diode rectifier 27 is connected to ground over the armature 33 and associated contact, the -gain control circuit is effectively disabled and the amplifier 19 operates with fixed gain. When the torpedo approaches within such range of the target that the signal level at the hydrophones and, hence, the amplifier output is sufficiently high to overcome the bias upon the cathode of the rectifier 30, the latter becomes conducting and a potential sufficient to render the device 31 conducting is impressed upon lthe control electrode of the device 31. Thereupon the gate relay 32 operates and locks in. Consequently, the transfer relay releases and the actuator 11 is disassociated from the gyroscope 12 and associated with the control 13 so that the rudder is controlled in accordance with signals received by the hydrophones 17. Also, upon operation of the gate relay 32, the direct connection from the anode of the rectifier 27 to ground is broken and the gain control circuit is enabled.

It will be noted that inasmuch as initiation of operation of the gain control circuit is under control of the `gate relay, operation of the latter is entirely independent of the gain control and will occur when the amplifier output reaches the level for which the gate circuit is set. Thus, the rudder will be transferred from gyroscope to target signal control at the maximum effective signal control range irrespective of the peak factor of the noise emanating from the target ship.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that it is but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein Without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A steering system for a moving body comprising a steering member, means for actuating said member, a first control means for controlling said actuating means to steer the body upon a preassigned cour-se, signal responsive control means for controlling said actuating means in accordance with the bearing relative to the body of the source of the signals received by said signal responsive means, said signal responsive means including an amplifier and normally disabled automatic gain control means for said amplifier, transfer means for selectively associating said actuating means with one or the other of said first and signal responsive control means, gate means controlled in accordance with the output of said amplifier for operating said transfer means when said output is of a prescribed magnitude, and means responsive to operation of said gate means for enabling said gain control means.

2. A steering system for a moving body comprising a steering member, means for actuating said member, a first control means for controlling said actuating means to steer the body upon a preassigned course, signal responsive control means for controlling said actuating means in accordance with the bearing relative to the body of the source ofthe signals received by said signal responsive means, said signal responsive means including an amplifier and automatic gain control means for said amplifier, said first control means normally being associated with said actuating means and said signal responsive means normally being dissociated from said actuating means, means for normally disabling said gain control means, means controlled in accordance with the output of said amplifier for associating said signal responsive means with said actuating means and dissociating said first control means therefrom when said output is of at least a prescribed magnitude, and means for rendering said disabling means `ineffective when said output is of said magnitude.

3. A steering system for a moving body comprising a steering member, means for actuating said member, a lfirst; control means for controlling said actuating means and normally associated therewith to steer the body along a preassigned course, signal responsive means for controlling said actuating means to steer the body in accordance with signals received by said signal responsive means, said signal responsive means being normally dissociated from said actuating means and including an amplifier and normally disabled automatic gain control means therefor, transfer means for dissociating said first control means from said actuating means and associating said signal responsive means therewith, and means operable in response to receipt by said signal responsive means of signals of at least a prescribed intensity for operating said transfer means and enabling said gain control means.

4. A steering system for a torpedo comprising a rudder,

means for actuating said rudder, a first control means for controlling said actuating means to steer the torpedo along a preassigned course, means responsive to signals emanating from a target for controlling said actuating means to steer the torpedo toward the target, said signal responsive means including an amplifier and normally disabled automatic gain control means therefor, transfer means for selectively associating said actuating means with one or the other of said first control and signal responsive vmeans, gate means controlled in accordance with the level of signals received by said signal responsive means for operating said transfer means when said signal level is of at least a prescribed magnitude, and means responsive to operation of said gate means for enabling said gain control means.

5. A steering system for a torpedo comprising a rudder, actuating means for said rudder, gyroscope means for controlling said actuating means to steer the torpedo upon `a preassigned course, said gyroscope means normally ciating said signal responsive means therewith, gate means controlled in accordance with the output of said amplier for operating said transfer means when said output is of at least a prescribed amplitude, and means controlled by and responsive to operation of said gate means for en- 5 2,393,921 abling said gain control means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,936,658 Bjornsou et al. Nov. 28, 1933 Mason Jan. 29, 1946 2,409,632 King Oct. 22, 1946 

